The dog food isle is filled with options. The grocery store has many feet of shelf space devoted to dog food options. A large store devoted to pets like Petsmart has many more times the number of options to feed your pampered pup. We all want to feed our four-legged friend the finest food we can find, and yet we do not want to waste money on hype or on unnecessary good advertising. So what’s a chef to do? First, what IS a GOOD dog food? In Boulder especially, we are VERY conscious of what we feed ourselves and what we feed our pets. Some are firm believers in raw diets. I am NOT suggesting... Read More

Sea greens, also known as sea vegetables, are a group of foods in the seaweed family, that grow in the ocean. If you eat Japanese food you may be familiar with some sea greens – nori, the dark green wrapper on your sushi, or kombu, a common ingredient in miso soup. If you think you’ve never had seaweed, think again! Agar, a gelatinous substance that comes from red seaweed is used as a thickener in many foods. Sea vegetables are some of the most nutrient-packed foods on earth, packed with fiber vitamins and minerals. They are beneficial to us because they slow the aging process by promoting... Read More

As Boulder dons its festive hues of green, St. Patrick’s Day brings a fresh take on tradition with a focus on cabbage, a leafy powerhouse that’s stealing the show from corned beef. The Humble Cabbage: A St. Patrick’s Staple Cabbage has long been associated with St. Patrick’s Day, often served alongside corned beef in a meal that’s become a tradition in the United States. The corned beef and cabbage tradition became a St. Patrick’s Day staple in America as Irish immigrants substituted the more affordable corned beef for their traditional Irish bacon, pairing it with cabbage due to... Read More

Nestled among the majestic peaks of Boulder, Colorado, lies a verdant treasure trove: dark leafy greens. These emerald wonders thrive in our crisp mountain air, offering a wealth of health benefits year-round. Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or any ordinary day, let’s explore how these greens can elevate your well-being. The Nutritional Powerhouses Dark leafy greens are like nature’s secret handshake—a promise of vitality and nourishment. Here’s why they deserve a permanent spot on your plate: Vitamins Galore: Boulder’s kale, spinach, Swiss chard, and collard greens deliver a vitamin-packed... Read More

In the heart of Boulder, where health and wellness are as much a part of the city as the Flatirons, soy has taken its rightful place as a nutritional powerhouse. This humble bean, often enjoyed as edamame, is not only a complete protein but also a rich source of vitamins and minerals essential for our well-being. “Edamame is one of my favorite staple super-foods,” Boulder super-athlete Brenna Bray, PhD says, “it’s nutritious and delicious!” Edamame: The Complete Protein Edamame (AKA soybeans) punches above its weight, much like Boulder itself. They’re packed... Read More

Boulder is known for its vibrant and active community, with many people who enjoy outdoor activities and sports. But did you know that there is a simple and delicious way to boost your athletic performance and health? The answer is beets, the humble root vegetable that has amazing benefits for your body and mind. Beets’ Antioxidant Boost: Betalains Beets are powerhouse sources of antioxidants as well as a variety of additional vitamins, minerals, and micronutrients. Antioxidants help protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to inflammation, aging, and chronic... Read More

If you live in Boulder, Colorado, you probably know someone who follows a vegan or ketogenic (keto) diet. Maybe you are one of them. But do you know how these diets affect your immune system and your health? We all worry that vegan diets are protein-deficient and keto diets can clog arteries, but is this true? A recent study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)1,2 reveals some surprising insights into how switching to a vegan or a keto diet rapidly impacts your immune system, metabolism, and gut microbiome in just 2 weeks.      Study Design The study involved 20 healthy volunteers who... Read More

There are three things almost all Boulderites have in common: we like to stay active, we value our health, and we LOVE our coffee. And for good reason! The caffeine and antioxidant content in coffee give it some big health benefits that make it a no-brainer for Boulder’s biohacking health-centric community. To be fair, coffee can have some doppio-sized disclaimers – compromised sleep, enhanced anxiety, gut agitation, and exposure to cancer-causing toxins in the beans, water, and to-go cups. But overall, the research shows that daily coffee consumption can save you years of healthy,... Read More

There are three things almost all Boulderites have in common: we like to stay active, we value our health, and we LOVE our coffee. But do those three things go together? The answer is not as simple as choosing dark or light roast, as coffee has both benefits and risks, depending on how much you drink, how you brew it, what you add to it, when you drink it, how you metabolize it, and – most importantly – which outcome(s) you focus on. Coffee’s “Big Shots” Coffee is more than just a delicious morning beverage; its caffeine and antioxidant content give it some... Read More

Boulder is famous for its natural beauty, outdoor activities, and healthy lifestyle. But did you know that Boulder is also home to one of the largest and most comprehensive studies on the human gut microbiome? The American Gut Project, led by researchers at CU-Boulder and UC-San Diego, has analyzed the stool samples and dietary habits of over 10,000 volunteers from around the world and found some fascinating links between what we eat, how we feel, and what’s going on in our guts. The Gut Microbiome: Linking Your Food to Your Mood The gut microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria,... Read More